Comment: Great review as always Rafe, interesting to hear the PIPS explanation for why N-Gage is taking so long to get to S60 3.2 phones. You'd think they would have sorted it out by now though... ah well.


[quote]For the menu view, 'horseshoe' and 'v-shaped' have been added to 'grid' and 'list'[/quote]

These additional views actually first appeared a year ago on the 6290, 5700, 6120 etc. For some reason they were left out of later phones like the E51, so people seemed to forget about them.


[quote]The current version, Nokia Maps 2.0, will be added in a later firmware update, although you can download and install it manually from the Nokia Maps web site. However, it is currently not as stable as Maps 1.2 and we would recommend you wait another month or two before upgrading.[/quote]

I put Maps 2.0 on my N95 and it actually seems a lot more stable than 1.2, I've never had 2.0 crash at all. Maybe I'm just not a "power user"? :-)

Comment: hi rafe.

Combining all three parts, of course very detailed review covering practically everything.

However, as things stand today, what would rather should be the motivating factor for people to buy this? As you yourself have put it, n 82 or 95 look a better proposition. What according to nokia would be the usp of this phone?

Hi tzer2, even i have installed nokia maps 2 on my n 82 and it works just fine. As you said, does not hang in turn hanging us in the middle of nowhere!

Comment: The 'horseshoe' and 'v-shaped' menus are useless crap, Nokia is clueless about UI design.

Comment: Ashu, I think Rafe's point is that the N78 currently has a very high price because it's very new, whereas the N95 has a low price because it's very old.

If you wait for the N78 to become a few months old, it will have a much lower price than the N95, and that will be its USP: a cheaper entry-level Nseries with cutting edge features such as an FM transmitter.

Comment: With regards to Maps 2.0 - yes its very stable on S60 3.1 (and I recommend using this); on S60 3.2 it is not so stable and so Nokia Maps 1.2 might be better.

ashu - I think the N82 is a better proposition (just) if you are buying SIM-free. If you're getting the phone on a contract (and assuming they are both free) I would say the N78 may just edge it. If you think you'll use TV-Out a lot and the camera is of primary importance then the N82 (or N95) would still be better. However as noted I expect prices to change in time. Operators are more likely to give this phone away (i.e. be another N73). I imagine, but know for sure that the bill of material for the N78 is less that the N82 by some way - therefore the prices of the N78 should fall significantly below that of the N82 in time.

To me the motivating factor is the more recent version of S60 (which inevitably we be better supported by Nokia services in the long run). S60 3.2 is more user friendly in my opinion. I also quite like the physical styling of the N78 (though that is subjective). I think its a more pocketable device - there's not much in it, but I do notice the difference.

It is a tricky one, but hopefully people can make their own judgement based on our review of all three devices!

Comment: [quote]With regards to Maps 2.0 - yes its very stable on S60 3.1 (and I recommend using this); on S60 3.2 it is not so stable and so Nokia Maps 1.2 might be better.[/quote]

Ahh... okay, that explains things. Why should it get less stable on newer S60 versions though? Is this another PIPS thing like N-Gage?

Comment: What do you think will we the old N95 classic users get the service pack2 benefits as a firmware upgrade? I am still hoping for it. Is it possible to do so in N95 hardware if nokia wish to do so?

Comment: I agree with the fact said S60 9.3 is the main advantage of this phone...i read each word on this review and i know i will never buy N78 but am reading and dreaming in the day i can buy a communicator with 9.3
but Nokia is too late when developing communicators...
Back to N78...even the price is high cauz its new phone the Classic N95 still cheaper...with months N78 will be cheaper than N82 and N95 8GB...but Classic N95 with the latest firmware is better than N78 in ages...not to mention ASR and better screen and keypad...
i think N78 must be used by a light users...for FM transmitter and Menu transitions and forget the usability...

Comment: Good stuff Rafe, but can we have the [U]scores[/U] on the [U]doors[/U] please?

Comment: I would like to know what is the compatibility ratio of apps with FP2,I have been reading that some of your favorite might apps might not work correctly or even at all....:icon13:

Any comment on this,as this is of utmost important to consumers who are getting a N78 purely because of FP2...

Comment: [quote=Williamoni;387096]Good stuff Rafe, but can we have the [U]scores[/U] on the [U]doors[/U] please?[/quote]

Not quite sure what the N78 has to do with [url=http://www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk/]food hygiene?[/url] I'm sure you mean something else, but its late and my brain isn't working properly.

Comment: [quote=hargs48;387100]I would like to know what is the compatibility ratio of apps with FP2,I have been reading that some of your favorite might apps might not work correctly or even at all....:icon13:

Any comment on this,as this is of utmost important to consumers who are getting a N78 purely because of FP2...[/quote]


I'll try and do some more extensive testing and do a write up. Quick answer is that some of the more complex ones may not work or be unstable. I know some people have had issues with 3rd party sat nav software.

Comment: Rafe - now you've confused me with your reference to food hygiene - nice one!
I was wondering what your overall score was for the N78.
The 'scores on the doors' is from The Generation Game but you're such a young lad you've probably never even seen Anthea do a twirl!

Comment: [quote]The 'scores on the doors' is from The Generation Game but you're such a young lad you've probably never even seen Anthea do a twirl![/quote]

Vic & Bob used that catch phrase in their "ironic" gameshow Shooting Stars, it was something like "What are the scores, George Dawes?"

Never knew it came from the generation game, I assume this is the 1970s version from before my time? :-)

Comment: > Rafe's epic

Personally, I'd prefer to not hear these kind of jibes, even if said in 'jest' and are representative of the relationships in the AAS team.

In any case, I hope Rafe doesn't pay any attention to them. I prefer the in depth reviews, and thorough narrative on the podcasts.

...but anyway....

Max.

Comment: [quote]Never knew it came from the generation game, I assume this is the 1970s version from before my time? :-)[/quote]

Yeah ok, I was only a boy myself!

Mr Wrinkly

By the way, Max, I interpreted 'epic' as a compliment in the context of the review, as in thorough, leaving no stone unturned. Anyway I'm sure Rafe is pleased there are people looking out for him.

Comment: [quote=Williamoni;387149]Yeah ok, I was only a boy myself!

Mr Wrinkly

By the way, Max, I interpreted 'epic' as a compliment in the context of the review, as in thorough, leaving no stone unturned. Anyway I'm sure Rafe is pleased there are people looking out for him.[/quote]

I also remember the 'generation game'. I think the catch phrase also got a mention in 'The Vicar of Dibley' at one point :)

Yes, 'epic' could be interpreted that way, I suppose. I guess it's more the time limits that the other guys put on him in the podcasts that I find a little annoying, and the little comments implying he talks for too long and is too boring. Perhaps he should have a podcast of his own so that those of us who are more interested in the serious 'business' side of all this stuff can get the benefit of his insight :)

Comment: [quote]Yes, 'epic' could be interpreted that way, I suppose. I guess it's more the time limits that the other guys put on him in the podcasts that I find a little annoying, and the little comments implying he talks for too long and is too boring. [/quote]

I thought Ewan was a bit off with him a couple of podcasts ago. Something about going off to make a cup of tea whilst Rafe was speaking.

To be fair to Rafe he laughed it off pretty well and delivered like a true professional.

I like a bit of variety in the podcasts so I'm happy with the current format.

Comment: [quote=Williamoni;387173]I thought Ewan was a bit off with him a couple of podcasts ago. Something about going off to make a cup of tea whilst Rafe was speaking.

To be fair to Rafe he laughed it off pretty well and delivered like a true professional.

I like a bit of variety in the podcasts so I'm happy with the current format.[/quote]

I guess I don't like it that much because they're trying to get Rafe to talk *less*, and I want to hear what he has to say. Not that the others aren't interesting too, of course (esp. Steve), but Rafe seems to focus more on the business and marketing aspects than the others which is what I'm interested in. I'm not really interested in the games apart from a technological and business stand points.

I could quite believe others might think differently...

Comment: [quote]I'm not really interested in the games apart from a technological and business stand points.[/quote]

Interesting to hear that! AAN has tended to focus on actually playing the games but AAS is probably the more appropriate place to discuss the business implications of a gaming platform based on Symbian.

It's interesting that the gaming industry has these two totally different ways of being covered, yet it's ultimately all the same subject matter.

In a way it's true for Symbian too, some people want to use the phones while others are interested in their significance for the mobile device industry.


[quote]Yeah ok, I was only a boy myself!

Mr Wrinkly[/quote]

It's actually quite frightening how quickly you can feel old nowadays. For example here in Finland a lot of children now don't know what a landline phone is! They've grown up with mobiles and call charges are so low that many young families have no form of landline at all, so the kids find the idea of a phone attached to a wall rather odd.

Comment: Is the D-pad the same as the N82? If so maybe theres hope that we may see the navi-wheel on the N82 in the future??

Comment: Thanks for the fish. But I cannot see the score. :)

Comment: I have installed Nokia Maps 2.0 on my N82 and it feels a lot slower than Nokia Maps 1.2

Sadly, you can't uninstall it :-(

Comment: Please, what is the N78's score after this very interesting review ?
Thanks for your reply
Gérard